Lantau Island

The curse of being in a tour group and coming out from China under a group tourist visa…..means, we have to check out early the following morning coz although our flight back to Cebu is only around 6:30pm, we have another tourist in the group who has to fly out by 12:30pm!

We arrived at the airport around 10am and after having brunch at one of the airport restaurant na me rice (as in, request ni fader!), I told my mom we should go out and explore the nearby Outlying Islands close to the airport.

Lantau Island is the biggest island in Hongkong and is adjacent to the Chep Lap Kok airport. Coming out from the airport, you can take the S1 bus to Tung Chung MTR station. You can alight from there and walk towards the green buses parked nearby, look for the line for Bus 23. The Ngong Ping-bound buses goes every 30 minutes so you really won’t be waiting that long.

Take note, that unless you have at least a half day to while away in Lantau, don’t even try coming here from the airport by buses as the rides take a long time. The airport to Ngong Ping journey takes almost 2 hours including the waiting time. Just the Tung Chung station to Ngong Ping alone will take a minimum of 45 minutes over twisting roads and upward climbs!

Since we have a very limited time, we did not wander off. I only have 2 places to visit in my itinerary --- Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery. We even eschewed going to the cultural themed - Ngong Ping Village as we just don't have the time to go around.

Considered the largest, seated, outdoor bronze Buddha statue in the world, the Tian Tan Buddha weighs over 250 tonnes and perched at its lofty peak, the statue looms over the whole island. Although it’s only another theme park, I got excited already when I saw Chinese-looking structures around the park grounds. Hahay buhay……how I wish I can really go to mainland China!!!

Although it wasn't much of a steep climb on the 268 steps towards the base of the statue, I had fun teasing my mother as she keeps on stopping after every 5 steps! Hahahaha she wants to go to the top but it was definitely a battle, especially with the cold wind blowing in our faces. Lol 

Once you arrive at the base of the statue, there are smaller bronze statues around the base and facing the seated Buddha in a prayerful and offering pose, they are called "The Offering of the Six Devas". Their symbolic offerings are considered important for Buddhists in ultimately attaining enlightenment --- flowers, incense, lamp, ointment, fruit, and music symbolizing charity, morality, patience, zeal, meditation, and wisdom.

You also get a fantastic view of the nearby mountain ranges and the Lantau peak obscured most of the times in a fog.....

Speaking of meditation, after our climb it was again another bone-chilling cold descent back to the playground area, we followed the throngs of people heading towards the Po Lin Monastery just so my mother can see a different type of religion and other religious buildings, and maybe for a spot of meditation for me??? just a bit.... :-) 

The Po Lin Monastery is a very popular monastery with both local residents and visitors. The monastery was built around the early 1900s by three Zen masters and is one of the most popular monasteries in Hongkong.

The "Precious Lotus Zen temple" looks really amazing and beautiful, despite the construction cranes and ladders next to it (there is a notice nearby that renovations on the building is going on....) especially more so with its golden interiors. As in, ang daming nakakasilaw na gold! hahahahaha

The well-trimmed garden with the multi-colored flowers surrounding it is a good backdrop for photos! And siempre pa, I asked my mother to have souvenir pose taken.

 And now its bye bye time.....till the next trip to Hongkong again...